Local’s Guide To The Best Jaipur Sunrise Spots

I recently came to know that many people are quite keen to experience the magic of sunrise in Jaipur. People are on a hunt for the best sunrise points in Jaipur and includes travelers on a visit to Jaipur as well as nature-loving Jaipur resident.

Beautiful Sun rising over Jaipur.

I thought of compiling this post for everyone’s benefit from the top places for sunrise in Jaipur.

Nahargarh Fort

Jal Mahal

Some of the best places to witness a sunrise in Jaipur are not easily accessible to everyone since it involves an element of adventure, unpaved path, thorny bushes, and risk of wild animals among other things. While some people are fit and ready to undertake such adventure, others may not be in a position to do so. I’m refraining from listing such places for the reasons of safety.

The following are the most popular places to witness the magic of sunrise in Jaipur.

1.Nahargarh Fort.

Nahargarh Fort is the most popular place in Jaipur to watch a sunrise. It’s not surprising why it is so. Apart from sunrise, you can enjoy the beautiful Jaipur view from the top since it is perched over a hill overlooking the city.

Nahargarh Fort offers one of the best of a rising sun in Jaipur.

Baori/ Stepwell

The sunrise point in Nahargarh Fort is on the east face near the Baori. It is close to the Baori where famous song Masti ki Pathshala from Bollywood movie Rang De Basanti was filmed. It’s known as Rang De Basanti shooting point or location.

Capturing a sunrise with a “Welfie” at Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur

The Department of Archaeology managing the Nahargarh Fort has marked a different place for watching a sunrise. This is near the tri-junction of the road leading to the Baori. Here is a picture of the designated sunrise point.

How To Reach Nahargarh Fort?

Hill Road

Walking Ramp

A significant distance and time are involved in reaching Nahargarh Fort from the city. If you are a tourist, pick up service for your return journey might be an issue as there is no transport facility at Nahargarh Fort. Ensure that you book your taxi/tuk-tuk for the return trip too or you can fix to pay waiting charges. Generally, drivers charge on two way basis even for one way drop.

There are two ways to reach Nahargarh Fort. The most popular route is through the hill road which branches off from Amer Road just after Kanak Ghati. It’s a beautiful road which has stunning views of the Jal Mahal or the Water Palace.

Road to Nahargarh Fort through the hills and forest

The second option is through the Nahargarh walking route which starts in the Purani Basti area near Nahargarh Road. It takes anywhere 15-20 minutes for a fit person to traverse through this ramp. Do note that you will encounter filth, pigs, goat, and roosters at the starting point of this walking path to Nahargarh Fort. Most people prefer the first one. Take your pick.

Nahargarh Fort walking route

Watch out– Nahargarh Fort is one of the most popular hangout places for the city youth. Being a popular place for youth, don’t expect peace. Loud music, people running around the ramparts & creating noise is all a part and parcel of the “Nahargarh Sunrise Experience”. Don’t be surprised to find a huge crowd at Nahargarh Sunrise point even before the sunrise.

Rush to witness sunrise at Nahargarh Fort

Rash driving, tripling on a two-wheeler, and speeding are all part of this package!

Nahargarh Fort and the road leading from Kanak Ghatihas a reputation for being the biggest open-air Bar in Jaipur. It’s corroborated with the empty beer cans, broken liquor bottles, plastic wrappers of “Chakhna” littering the entire stretch of the roadside, all along.

With little presence of police or law enforcement, people consume beer and liquor right in the morning. Accidents on this road are a common occurrence since it a winding road with many blind spots. There’s a saying that speed thrills and kills! Almost every week there are news reports of vehicles falling in the valley, thanks to the lack of driving skills on a hill road among drivers, rash driving, drink and drive cases. Here is a picture of an accident reported by a newspaper – Patrika. (picture courtesy – epatrika)

Watching the sunrise with loud music being played around or being run over by a speeding vehicle is not really my idea and this usually keeps me away from the Nahargarh Fort Sunrise.

2. Jal Mahal or Water Palace at Mansagar lake

Jal Mahal or Water Palace is another popular sunrise point in Jaipur. What makes it so popular? The proximity to the main city is definitely one reason. Also, the sunrise is clearly seen from Jal Mahal as this is where the eastern hill range ends. One gets an uninterrupted view of the rising Sun. The entire setting is beautiful. There’s no extra effort involved in terms of driving, time or hill drive. For the tourists, services of the app-based service provider like Uber and Ola is also available.

Majestic sunrise at Jal Mahal or Water Palace in Mansagar lake, Jaipur.Expansive wide-angle view of the sunrise at Jal Mahal, Jaipur.

How to Reach Jal Mahal

Jal Mahal is on Amer Road just before Kanak Vrindavan. From Johri Bazar it is approximately 4-4.5 Km and easy to spot. For tourists and visitors, the best option is to use Uber or Ola cab. Finding a Tuk-Tuk/ Auto-Rickshaw may be difficult during the early morning, your hotel may be able to assist you in finding one. It is not difficult to find an e-rickshaw or tuk-tuk on your way back. Jal Mahal is also connected via local bus service which connects Badi Chaupar near Hawa Mahal/ Johari Bazar to Amer.

Watch out – It’s never crowded at Jal Mahal during this hour but you might come across the group of boys residing in the vicinity using language which is far from desirable. Chances of such experiences occurring during morning hours are less likely, though. Sometimes, the stench from the water might be a turn-off. Many people dump bread, biscuit, and wheat dough in the lake to feed fishes. Although they might be doing so for earning good Karma, it ends up polluting the lake.

Sunrise and Sunset are two facets of nature has always been an integral part of the photographers delight, and each place has its own charm. Though the sun remains the same but the surrounding of each location makes all the difference…therein lies the beauty of way sun manifests. Fort & Hill Stations have they advantage and these places are generally dotted with such vantage points to get the best view and also if there are these water body, it creates the magical reflection, and then we have a new perspective captured in our camera. Never easy to locate all such strategic points in historical cities and you have done a fantastic work in bringing to us the array of locations…
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Thank you, Nihar. You are right that location makes all the difference. Another perspective is the presence of clouds. I agree with your statement that places with vantage point make all the difference. Sunrise and sunset both are beautiful. It is all about you being there. Some people find it difficult to get up early. For me, experiencing a sunset is kind of difficult because I’m busy at work. In the end, it is all about what works for you.

I remember that you are into walking and running. I’m hoping you do get to watch a sunrise on a regular basis! Do you?

I agree it is all about what works for us…yes I am into walking and love to go out in the morning in different places, and the sunrise in a valley in different from the sea beach…and so does it goes with the sunset.
Thanks for sharing with us such delightful places dotted across the Pink city.
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Writing gets a lift when you shift your focus from work routines and go for a walk, that’s another motivation that keeps me driving towards the nature…health definitely remains the primary driver.
I stay in Hyderabad and not as much as Pink city but the Pearl city has its share of historical monuments and the present govt. is giving a good face lift…